Haarlems Dagblad

Profile
I'm a freelance investigative reporter and journalism lecturer. I have worked as an editor at newspapers and national magazines and as a part-time journalism teacher for sixteen years. In 2005 I establised my own production company.

After an academic study Social and Economic History at Radboud University (Nijmegen) I started my career in 1989 as an economic editor at local newspaper Haarlems Dagblad. Later I went to work for the news agency Geassocieerde Pers Diensten (GPD) in The Hague, the national newspaper NRC Handelsblad, business magazine Quote and the weekly general interest magazine Intermediair. Since 2005 I work freelance.

Training

I teach advanced research and interview techniques and (creative) writing skills to journalists and other professionals. My clients are journalism schools, universities, profit and non-profit organizations and training institutes in The Netherlands and Belgium. I also taught in workshops on several international conferences.

Workshops: How to use computers for research? I gave workshops on computer-assited reporting (CAR) to reporters at several national and international conferences, like the London Summer School for Investigative Journalism 2007 at the Cass Business School in London, the Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2007 in Toronto and the international conference on investigative reporting in East and South East Europe in Budapest 2007. The workshops focus on record keeping and knowledge management.

Stories

As a reporter, my main focus is on transport and energy. I write regularly about:

Trains, planes, cars and buses We can not imagine life without them, but they count for a staggering 13 percent of the greenhouse effect that threatens our planet. And their contribution is growing - fast. What do we do? And: How safe are our vehicles? What are the social costs of large infrastructure projects? Why do many people dislike public transport? Is it necessary to haul products all over the world?

Power and water utility plants We do not only transport people and products, we also maintain a costly infrastructure for electricity, gas and drinking water. Who owns these vital companies? Are they prepared to invest in techniques that are low on carbon? What's wrong with wind and solar energy? Will nuclear fusion safe the day? Or should we rely on 'safe' nuclear plants?
These stories have a strong international angle. That is why I worked together, on more than one occasion, with reporters in other countries.

In the past I have also done stories about social-economic issues: work and income, social security, health and food.

Research consumes time and demands knowledge of advanced techniques. That is why I take part in several international journalism projects, with reporters and researchers in other European countries. I’m co-founder of the first European investigative reporters network (IRENE) and secretary of the Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Reporters (VVOJ). I’m also affiliated with the Global Investigative Journalism Network and with Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), an USA-based association. I also initiated www.ontherecord.nl, a portal and research site for journalists.